The Solti Foundation- Award Winners 2009

Discover previous award winners

: Christina Athinodorou
Cyprus, composer-conductor

Christina was awarded a grant to contribute to the costs of attending the Herrenhaus-Edenkoben composition and conducting masterclasses and workshops in Germany. She is currently working towards a doctorate in composition at Royal Holloway, University of London, whilst continuing to compose and perform. On receiving her award Christina wrote: “Your generous support, particularly in this period of financial uncertainty, is extremely encouraging for young artists who wish to take further steps in their creative fields”. See Christina’s website at www.athinodorou.com
: Aykan Aydin
Turkey, baritone

Funding to help with the costs of attending auditions, masterclasses and competitions (including the 2009 Neue Stimmen Competition) was granted to this young baritone from Turkey. A video of Aykan performing may be seen at www.youtube.com/watch?v=orWOqb3QGYg
: Jonathan Beyer
USA, baritone

Jonathan was granted funding towards the costs of attending the 2009 Chautauqua Institution Voice Summer School in New York State. He is currently a member of the young artist training programme of the Pittsburgh Opera Center in the US. Jonathan’s website, which includes extracts from recent performances, may be found at www.jonathanbeyer.com
: Esen Demirci
Turkey, mezzo-soprano

A grant to contribute to the costs of attending auditions, masterclasses and competitions was made to Esen Demirci, a young mezzo-soprano from Turkey. At present, Esen continues her studies in opera at Istanbul State Conservatory. On receiving the award, she wrote: “I am very happy to be awarded this scholarship, which is very important for me. Thank you very, very much for your Foundation's support for young musicians like me.” Recent performances may be viewed at www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQicW57jEXo and at www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICsFyl_D7ms
: Giovanna Grassi
Italy, horn

This young horn player from Italy was granted emergency funding to contribute to her travel costs to attend a short period of lessons with Dale Clevenger in Chicago. Following her visit, Mr Clevenger wrote: “Giovanna’s visit was a total success. I gave her lessons almost daily, she observed my students’ lessons at Roosevelt University, attended the CSO rehearsals and concert of the week… I would say it was very enlightening, interesting and fun for Giovanna and, thanks to the Solti Foundation, she was able to accomplish all this. I thank the Foundation for making this venture a reality for Giovanna.”
: Sasha Grynyuk
Ukraine, piano

This young pianist from Ukraine was awarded funding towards the costs of making a promotional recording. Sasha maintains a busy schedule of concerts and recitals whilst pursuing his training at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. Visit his website at www.sashagrynyuk.com. See Sasha in performance at www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcJ5e0u1x-0
: Stuart Haycock
Australia, tenor

Stuart, a graduate of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, received an award to contribute to his living costs whilst attending the postgraduate opera course at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Stuart was a participant in the 2008 Solti Te Kanawa summer Accademia (see www.soltitekanawaaccademia.org).
: Ching-Yun Hu
Taiwan, piano

Funding was granted to this young pianist from Taiwan, the 2008 winner of the Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition, to contribute to the costs of purchasing a silent piano. The Yamaha Disklavier can be played as an ordinary piano, but it can also be played electronically through headphones. Visit Ching-Yun’s website at www.chingyunhu.com. A selection of recent performances can also be viewed at www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=ching-yun+hu&aq=f
: Veronika Ilinskaya
Russia, piano

This young pianist from Russia was awarded a grant to help with travel and subsistence to attend auditions in Europe during 2009/10. Veronika, who plans to continue her Doctoral studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London, recently released her debut CD with Landor records - the recording includes works by Scriabin, Prokofiev and Medtner. Visit Veronika’s website at www.veronikailinskaya.com
: Nina Lejderman
Sweden, soprano

An award to this young Swedish soprano will contribute to her living expenses whilst attending the postgraduate Opera Course at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Nina has been a soloist with the Stockholm Youth Symphony Orchestra and has given solo recitals and oratorio performances throughout Sweden and the UK. She was a participant at the Accademia Solti’s 2008 summer masterclasses in Italy (www.soltitekanawaaccademia.org).
: Gail Macleod
Great Britain, recorder

Funding was granted to this young British recorder player to contribute to her travel expenses whilst attending the Postgraduate Artist Programme in Leadership at the Guildhall School of Music in London. Gail performs with the recorder quintet ‘Consortium5’, which will begin work on a debut CD later in 2009. The group’s website, which includes audio links to recent performances, may be found at www.consortium5.com.
: Aimara Magaña
Cuba, oboe

Aimara received a grant to contribute to the costs of purchasing a new oboe from the instrument maker Howarth in London. Aimara, who is currently finishing her Masters Degree in Performance Oboe at the Royal Northern College of Music, runs projects in her home city of Havana, Cuba, to help promote the level of oboe playing, teaching and training in the country (for more information on the “Oboe Habana Project” see www.cubanow.net/pages/loader.php?sec=17&t=2&item=6846 ). On receiving the award, Aimara wrote: “I cannot begin to express my thanks for helping me with the oboe. Sir Georg Solti is one of my most admired and respected conductors…”
: Anita Mishoukova
Russia, violin

An award was made to this young violinist from Russia to help with the costs of attending master classes and competitions. Anita, a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, is currently pursuing her postgraduate studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London and at the University of Music and Drama (HMT) in Hanover. She continues to perform internationally.
: Endri Nini
Albania, piano

A grant to this young Albanian pianist will contribute to the costs of travelling to the UK for lessons with Stephen Kovacevich. Endri is a student of the University of Music and Drama (HMT) in Hanover and regularly performs internationally. On receiving his award, Endri wrote: “Please express my gratitude to the Trustees of the Solti Foundation - the award means a lot to me… It is very encouraging to know that there are people who trust in mature musicians, honest arts and real values. The Solti Foundation does this perfectly, and I feel honored to receive this award, which arrived at the best time for my musical development.”
: Narine Ojakhyan
Armenia, soprano

A grant to contribute to the costs of attending the Samling Masterclasses with Sir Thomas Allen (UK, November 2009) was made to this young soprano from Armenia. Narine, who is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music’s Opera programme, has also participated in the 2008 Solti Te Kanawa summer Accademia (see www.soltitekanawaaccademia.org).
: Mauricio Pauly
Costa Rica, composer

An award to this young composer from Costa Rica will contribute to the costs of attending the 2009 Acanthes Compositional Workshops in Metz, France. Here his new work for oboe, clarinet, bassoon, violin, viola, contrabass, harp and percussion will be rehearsed, performed and recorded. Mauricio, who has studied composition in Costa Rica, Miami and Boston (USA) is currently preparing a PhD in composition at Manchester University, UK. His website is at http://mauriciopauly.com. See also http://last.fm/music/mauricio+pauly
: Alexei Petrov
Russia, piano

Alexei, a graduate of the Moscow Conservatory, was awarded funding towards his travel costs to attend the 2009 Leeds International Piano Competition. Alexei is currently pursuing postgraduate studies at the Royal College of Music in London. He has performed throughout Russia and internationally including concerts in Germany, Japan and the US.
: Aron Rosza
Great Britain / Hungary, piano

Aron, a young pianist of British and Hungarian nationality, was awarded assistance towards the costs of making a promotional CD and DVD. Aron, who is a prize-winner of the 15th Vienna International Music Competition, recently completed his postgraduate studies in advanced performance at the Royal College of Music in London. He continues to perform regularly in both the UK and internationally.
: Andrey Rubtsov
Russia, conductor (oboe)

Funding was granted to this young conductor from Russia to contribute to his living costs whilst attending the Postgraduate Conducting Course at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Andrey is a graduate of the Moscow State Conservatory and for many years has performed with the Russian National Orchestra both as a soloist (oboe) and conductor. See Andrey’s website at www.andreyrubtsov.com/index-eng.html.
: Lucja Szablewska
Poland, soprano

A grant to this young Polish soprano, a graduate of the Frederic Chopin University of Music in Warsaw, will contribute to her living expenses whilst attending the Postgraduate Course in Vocal Studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London. See Lucja in performance at www.youtube.com/watch?v=Trqup-xYB2o.
: Samuel Tam
Canada, conductor

A grant to this young Canadian-Chinese conductor will contribute to travel and accommodation costs so that he may participate in rehearsals of Der Rosenkavalier with Sir Richard Armstrong and the São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra in Brazil.
Sam, who is a graduate of McGill University, has spent the last two years as Apprentice and Assistant Conductor at Canadian Opera Company. He now plans to continue his training at the University of Toronto, where he will work as graduate assistant to David Briskin, conductor of the National Ballet of Canada.
: Haiyu Wang
China / Singapore, tuba

An award was made to this young tuba player from Singapore towards the costs of attending the 2009 Domaine Forget summer Music Camp in Quebec where he will attend masterclasses with Roger Bobo. Click on this link for more information and to hear some of Haiyu’s recordings http://myspace.com/tubawhy.
: Wayne Weng
Canada, piano

An award to contribute to the costs of making a promotional recording was made to Wayne Weng, a young pianist from Canada. Wayne is a graduate of Mannes College of Music in New York, and of the Guildhall School of Music in London.
: Solti Te Kanawa Accademia di Bel Canto

Three singers, auditioned and selected by the Accademia, were granted funding to attend the 2009 Accademia Solti Te Kanawa summer masterclasses in Castiglione della Pescaia, Italy. This year’s masterclasses will be led by Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Dennis O’Neill. The three are: